Earthworm Jim 2

From Sega Retro

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EarthWormJim2 Title.png

Earthworm Jim 2
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Playmates Interactive Entertainment (US) Virgin Interactive (EU) Takara (JP)
Sega Mega Drive
JP Sega Channel Interplay
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS,
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (13 tracks)
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-10304G
Sega Saturn
US
T-13203H
Sega Saturn
EU
T-7019H-50
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Earthworm Jim 2 (アースワーム・ジム2) is the direct sequel to Earthworm Jim, and was released (among other consoles) for the Sega Mega Drive in 1995. An enhanced version was released on the Sega Saturn.

Though very similar to the original game, Earthworm Jim 2 has more varied gameplay than its predecessor. As well as including standard platforming levels, there are also quiz questions, an isometric shoot 'em up level and various adaptions to the platforming formula, including marathon races and a stage where Jim must shoot his way through mounds of dirt. It retains the surreal humour from the first game and was followed by Earthworm Jim 3D in 1999.

Versions

Mega Drive

Like its predecessor, Earthworm Jim 2 was developed with the Sega Mega Drive in mind, with the code subsequently ported to the Super Nintendo. The Mega Drive version is therefore the original copy of the game and the basis for most of the ports going forward.

Saturn

The Sega Saturn version of Earthworm Jim 2 was ported to the system (alongside a PlayStation version) by Screaming Pink. It uses the enhanced audio soundtrack seen in the PC version released six months prior, while making a number of improvements to the game' graphics (namely the backgrounds, which are unique to these two versions). A great deal still resembles that of the Mega Drive original, however, and many of the sprites remain largely unchanged (including those employing dithering techniques to circumvent the Mega Drive's limited colour palette).

The Saturn and PlayStation Earthworm Jim 2s were considered controversial by some critics in 1996, as it was felt the upgrades were not significant enough to justify the release on newer hardware.

History

Legacy

The Mega Drive version of the game has since been re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console service.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Earthworm Jim 2
(C) 1995 Shiny Entertainment, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

  • Program: Andy Astor
  • Additional Programming: Nicholas Jones, D.P.
  • Art Director: Nick Bruty
  • Lead Artists: Steve Crow, Mark Lorenzon
  • Level Designer: Tom Tanaka
  • Directing Animator: Michael Francis Dietz
  • Animators: Jeff Etter, Shawn McLean, Ed Schofield, Doug Tennapel, Larry Whitaker
  • Assistant Animators: Eric Ciccone, Roger Hardy
  • Additional Art: Rod Altschul, Clark Sorensen, Lin Shen, Tom Tanaka
  • Fine Art Director and Illustrations: Michael Koelsch
  • Music & FX: Tommy Tallarico Studios, Inc
  • Clean Up: Dave Bombadier, Nancy Fernandez
  • Designed By: About a million Shiny meetings
  • Produced By: Scott Herrington, David Luehmann
  • Development Tools By: Andy Astor, Dan Chang, Alias, Psy-Q, Rob Northern
  • Lead Testers: Andy Brown, Lee Jones, James Martinez, Carlos Rodriguez, Manuel Quintones, Jose Zatarain
  • Special Thanks: Brenda Bolanos, Sandy Burusco, Brad Hartke, Stacy Hering, Charles Loop, Chris Mayberry, Richard Sallis, Nicole Smith, Kris Stoyak, Angie Tennapel, Beck Tran, Chips + Bread, Cows

Track list

Saturn version

1. [data track]  
2. Tangerine (02:02) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
3. Granny Bag (02:07) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
4. Italian Medley (01:53) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
5. Dad's Tune (01:21) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
6. Moonlight Sonata - 1st Movement (05:37) 
Composed by: Beethoven
7. Moonlight Sonata - 3rd Movement (06:19) 
Composed by: Beethoven
8. The Moo Tango (01:48) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
9. The Big Top Polka (02:53) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
10. Tropical Paradise (02:28) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
11. Subterranean (05:40) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
12. Dixieland Finale (00:45) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
13. Continue To Rock (00:39) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
14. Doobeedowapbop (01:08) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
Running time: 34:40

Magazine articles

Main article: Earthworm Jim 2/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
76 №11, p108-111[2]
93 №48, p120/121/122
93 №169, p24/25[3]
79
96
92
91 №37, p50/51
94 №88
93 №47, p58/59/60
76
95 №58, p92/93/94/95
95 №74, p32/33/34
93 №53, p42/43
94 №2, p89[4]
Sega Mega Drive
90
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
80
[5]
CD Consoles (FR)
76
[2]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[6]
Cool Gamer (RU)
90
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
93
[3]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
79
[8]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2 (RU)
80
[10]
Fusion (US) NTSC-U
75
[11]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
96
[12]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
92
[13]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
98
[14]
GamePro (UK)
95
[15]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
94
[16]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
89
[17]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
95
[18]
Joypad (FR)
93
[19]
LeveL (CZ)
100
[20]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
76
[21]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
91
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
95
[23]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
75
[24]
Player One (FR)
95
[25]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
94
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
93
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
94
[29]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[30]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
92
[31]
Ultimate Gamer (US)
100
[32]
Última Generación (ES)
77
[33]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
89
Based on
32 reviews

Earthworm Jim 2

Mega Drive, US
EWJ2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Earthworm Jim 2 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Earthworm Jim 2 MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Earthworm Jim 2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
EarthwormJim2 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, BR
EWJ2 md br cover.jpg
Cover
EWJ2MDBRCartTop.jpg
EWJ2MDBRCart.jpg
Cart

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №61, p114/115
70 №413, p31
80
83
81
60 №47, p44
100 №55, p64
76
70 №50, p71[35]
80
87 №71, p100/101
85 №82
72 №13, p72/73[36]
70 №1996-15, p240[37]
80 №, p11[38]
80
Sega Saturn
79
Based on
16 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR) PAL
40
[39]
Consoles + (FR)
92
[40]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[41]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
80
[42]
GameFan (US)
83
[43]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[44]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
81
[45]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[46]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
60
[47]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
81
[48]
Hacker (HR)
84
[49]
Hacker (HR)
82
[50]
Intelligent Gamer's Fusion (US) NTSC-U
83
[51]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
100
[52]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
76
[53]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
91
[54]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
70
[35]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[55]
neXt Level (DE) PAL
80
[56]
Player One (FR)
87
[57]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[58]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
61
[59]
Secret Service (PL)
75
[60]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
85
[61]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
72
[62]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[63]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
80
[38]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
76
[64]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
73
[65]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[66]
VideoGames (US)
90
[67]
Sega Saturn
77
Based on
31 reviews

Earthworm Jim 2

Saturn, US
EarthWormJim2Back us.jpgEarthWormJim2Box us.jpg
Cover
EarthWormJim2SatDisc us.jpg
Disc
Earthwormjim2 sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
EWJ2 Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
EWJ2 Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
EWJ2 Saturn JP Box Back.jpgEWJ2 Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
EarthwormJim2 Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Earthworm Jim 2 Sega Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc

External links

References

  1. Press release: 1995-11-13: GET READY FOR EARTHWORM WEDNESDAY
  2. 2.0 2.1 File:CDConsoles FR 11.pdf, page 108 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CDConsoles FR 11.pdf_p108" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:CVG UK 169.pdf, page 24 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 169.pdf_p24" defined multiple times with different content
  4. File:SSM_UK_02.pdf, page 89
  5. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 67
  6. Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 120
  7. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 71
  8. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 42
  9. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 309
  10. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 123
  11. Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 4: November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 116
  12. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 11: November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  13. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 12 December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 58
  14. GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
  15. GamePro, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-28), page 20
  16. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 5, episode 9" (1995-11-16, 24:00) (+14:17)
  17. Game Informer, "November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 20
  18. Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 72
  19. Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 58
  20. LeveL, "Březen 1996" (CZ; 1996-03-06), page 21
  21. MAN!AC, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 80
  22. Mega Fun, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-21), page 36
  23. Mean Machines Sega, "Earthworm Jim 2 Exclusive Review Booklet" (UK; 1995-10-30), page 2
  24. Next Generation, "December 1995" (US; 1995-11-21), page 1999
  25. Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 94
  26. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-15), page 18
  27. Sega Power, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-16), page 32
  28. Sega Pro, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-30), page 36
  29. Sega Saturn Magazine, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-24), page 89
  30. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 42
  31. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 13
  32. Ultimate Gamer, "November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 92
  33. Última Generación, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 102
  34. VideoGames, "December 1995" (US; 1995-11-21), page 92
  35. 35.0 35.1 File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf, page 71 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega50UK.pdf_p71" defined multiple times with different content
  36. File:SSM_UK_13.pdf, page 72
  37. File:SSM_JP_19960913_1996-15.pdf, page 242
  38. 38.0 38.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 13 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p13" defined multiple times with different content
  39. CD Consoles, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 126
  40. Consoles +, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 114
  41. Famitsu, "1996-11-08,15" (JP; 1996-10-25), page 1
  42. Fun Generation, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-10), page 78
  43. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 3: March 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 12
  44. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 7: July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 12
  45. Game Players, "Vol. 9 No. 5 May 1996" (US; 1996-04-xx), page 66
  46. GamePro, "May 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 64
  47. GamesMaster, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-29), page 44
  48. Game Informer, "April 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 42
  49. Hacker, "02/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 30
  50. Hacker, "07-08/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 28
  51. Intelligent Gamer's Fusion, "Volume 2, Number 8: May 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 83
  52. Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 64
  53. MAN!AC, "07/96" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 62
  54. Mega Fun, "07/96" (DE; 1996-06-19), page 40
  55. Next Generation, "June 1996" (US; 1996-05-21), page 119
  56. neXt Level, "Juli 1996" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 68
  57. Player One, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 100
  58. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 17" (JP; 1996-08-02), page 189
  59. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 26" (JP; 1996-12-13), page 70
  60. Secret Service, "Marzec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  61. Sega Power, "Collectors' Issue 1996" (UK; 1996-07-xx), page 50
  62. Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-17), page 72
  63. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-15 (1996-09-13)" (JP; 1996-08-23), page 242
  64. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Three" (UK; 1996-11-29), page 54
  65. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 24
  66. Video Games, "8/96" (DE; 1996-07-31), page 112
  67. VideoGames, "May 1996" (US; 1996-04-23), page 62